sitting in the most northwesterly corner of greece, corfu is an elegant and
cosmopolitan island, wearing the mantle of its colourful venetian history with style.
‘somewhere between calabria and corfu the blue really begin s...you are aware of a
change in the heart of things: aware of the horizon begin ning to stain at the rim of
the world: aware of islands coming out of the darkness to meet you’. so begin s
lawrence durrell’s 1945 ode to corfu, prospero’s cell. even today, visitors to the
island often arrive by sea, approaching from italy in the west, of the greek mainland
in the east. emerging in the early morning sunshine, the pastel-hued houses above
corfu town’s old port are a jumble of slim tiers with narrow passages running
between them, made brilliant with washing hung out to dry from every balcony like
festive bunting. the tall venetian mansions display ancient coats of coloured paint,
blurred by successive winters and giving visitors to the town the feeling of stepping
into a watercolour painting.
the town is centred on a wide tree-lined esplanade called the spianada, whose
french arcades echo the rue de rivoli. a drop of britishness is to be found on the
noble sweep of this square, which is transformed into a cricket pitch throughout the
summer - the world’s only working sports field within a unesco world heritage
site.
meanwhile , the corfiot countryside boasts an elegiac greenery, unrivalled across
greece and contrasting remarkably with the solemn barrenness of the aegean.
bathed in brilliant white sunlight throughout the summer months, the winter rains
ensure a sublime frondescence across the island, with the inland valleys thickly
carpeted with wild flowers, studded with gnarled olive trees and dense groves of
stiffly swaying cypresses. the sophisticated north-east is known as kensington-on-
sea, and is the site of the rothschild family’s imposing summer villa. it is here that
the luxury villa lifestyle comes into its own, with the hillsides sprinkled with secluded,
high-end properties boasting private infinity pools and awe-inspiring sea views, with
the snowcapped albanian-epirote mountains rising mysteriously in the east.
This newly-built, neo-classical style villa benefits from its prime position in the village of Kontokali, just 8 km. north of Corfu town. The property has been finished to the highest standards by its French architect/owner, and offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an elegant island villa, built in perfect harmony with its surroundings.
Consisting of 630 sq.m. of living area, the estate is entered via a large covered porch, supported by graceful Greek columns. Paying homage to the classical architecture of ancient times, the property has been sensitively designed and built with refined materials such as Greek marble.
The villa is laid out over three levels, with the centrepiece surely being the impressively spacious living area of 250 sq.m., crowned with a chic mezzanine level and fringed with bay windows, allowing residents to take full advantage of the property’s amazing views across the Corfiot countryside and the Ionian Sea beyond.
Upstairs are two master bedrooms measuring a comfortable 20 sq.m. each, both with en-suite bathrooms and opening out onto large, 50 sq.m. solarium terraces with breathtaking views of the sea and mainland mountains.
The villa also boasts a state-of-the-art fitness room, guest WC and stylish dressing room. In addition, this gracious estate includes an independent guest apartment of 85 sq.m., containing two bedrooms,a bathroom, a separate WC anda fitted kitchen/ dining room. An additional 6,400 sq.m. of landscaped gardens filled with mature olive and fruit trees also reveals a stunning infinity pool with a gazebo and patio area, perfect for summertime barbecues and entertaining.
Oenophiles take note – this impressive villa boasts an exclusive underground cave (25 sq.m.), ideal to be used as a wine cellar
